What’s been going on!

You might remember last year when we talked about our aging infrastructure and how we had three pieces of equipment in for repairs in one week.  Well last week was the ultimate equipment failure, our 34 year old tractor developed a hydraulic leak that cannot be fixed.  Gulp, did not plan on buying a new tractor anytime soon but the big fall soil preparation is coming up and we have to have a tractor.

Fortunately we had already prepared all the planting beds for fall crops so had at least a few weeks to figure it out.  We have used two different mechanics to work on the old tractor over the years and they both hemmed and hawed “not sure we can even get the parts”.  I called yet two more shops and they gave me the same story.  Our tractor, a Long brand, has not been made for 20 years so we knew that sooner or later we might run into this problem.

Research ensued, buying a tractor is like buying a car but only more expensive.  We also had to have a certain size tractor as everything on the farm is set up for planting beds four feet on center, all the implements, all the irrigation, all the mulches, all the tunnels, hell our brains are calibrated to that same four foot measurement.

The selection of compact tractors is much better than it was 30 years ago but we ended up with a Kubota (which we wanted but couldn’t afford in 1982).  Even though essentially the same size and horse power it is quite a step up with 4WD vs. 2WD, a front end loader which we have never had and other amenities that tractor engineers didn’t even think of three decades ago.  So it arrived two days ago and Jennie has already driven it more than I have!

Pictures of the Week

Jennie approves

The old versus the new, welcome to the 21^st century

What’s going to be at the market?

We are no longer at the Wednesday market, for the rest of the season.

If you want to roast peppers remember to stop by our stall first thing to get your peppers into the cue, then go shop and they will be ready for you when you are done.  If you would like a large amount of peppers roasted (5# or more) please let us know by Friday morning so we can have them ready for you at market.

Peppers, slowing down some but still plenty!  An amazing amount of red and yellow Bells; red, yellow and orange Corno di Toros; Cubanelle, Ashe County Pimentos and Aji Dulce the habanero without heat in sweet peppers.

Hot peppers from mildest to hottest- Passilla, Anaheim (New Mexican), Poblano, Spanish Piquillo and French Espelette, our own Picante Pimento, Serrano, Jalapeno, Cayenne and Datil.

Plenty of the Shishito and Padron appetizer peppers prepared the same easy with a quick blister in a pan then sprinkled with salt and eaten whole.  Get some of both and do your own comparison. .

A great supply of Eggplant Italian heirloom and the striped Nubia.  Spaghetti and Butternut Winter Squash.  Tender and sweet Japanese Salad Turnips.  Red Radishes.

Fall greens, more each week. Summer Crisp lettuce, a bit of Little Gem bibb.  More Asian Braising Greens and of course Callaloo the summer cooking green to replace Kale, actually an amaranth, also known as the Jamaican spinach, great for a fast sauté.

The flower department is into late summer mode lead by the Crested Celosia wave and some of the radiant Plume Celosia is back too.

 

As a reminder if there is anything that you would like for us to hold for you at market just let us know by e-mail, by the evening before, and we will be glad to put it aside for you.  Just so you know, sometimes not everything listed will be at the Wednesday market.

Hope to see you all at the market!

Alex, Betsy and Jennie

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